Jaw support



May 16, 1950 e. A. SWENDIMAN JAW SUPPORT Filed Jan. 14, 1948 l 'atenteci May 16, 195

UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a law or chin support designed for the primary purpose of holding the lower jaw in its upper or closed position in cases of jaw fracture and comprehends a structure which may be conveniently used to prevent mouth breathing in children and adults.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will be capable of adjustment to fit any shaped face and which is capable of simple and convenient adjustment to permit its use without technical assistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jaw chin support which can be shaped or molded to the specific contour to which it is to be applied so that its use will not prove inconvenient or uncomfortable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chin or jaw support which will tend to center the jaw, will prevent mouthbreathing and thus avoid malocclusion and which may also be utilized as a jaw brace in cases of fracture and the like.

Other objects of this invention will more fully hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings and specification forming a part of this application, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device when applied;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the device assembled;

Figure 3 is a rear view showing the supporting harness; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Figure 2.

The invention comprises a jaw supporting structure formed of three major parts, namely, the chin cup I and the wings or jaw braces or supports 2 and 3. These parts may be made of any light metal or of a plastic, it being necessary that the material from which the supporting parts are formed is capable of being shaped to the curvature of the lower face of the person who is to use the device. It has been found that suitable plastics may be used which are capable of shaping by the application of heat and which will retain their rigidity after having set. The chin cup structure includes at its lower transverse portion two opposed V-shaped pockets 4 and 5 which extend in axial alignment with their reduced ends 6 and l in spaced relation to permit the insertion of the fastening wedges 8 for locking the reduced ends 9 of the side wings 2 and 3 in position in the pockets. The side wings are formed of relatively large area at their outer ends, these 2 end portions fitting at the side of the jaw and being adapted to conform to the contour of the jaw g and of the face line. The wings 2 and 3 are gradually reduced toward the front to provide the end strap portions 9 and ii], the ends of which extend in the pockets 4 and 5 and are locked in the pockets by the wedges 8. The ends of the straps 9 and H! are formed with perforations II for inserting a suitable tool to urge the reduced wings into the pockets 4 and 5.

For supporting the structure there is provided a head band [4 having an adjusting buckle l4, this head band being adapted to be strapped about the upper portion of the head and to be held against downward movement by the cross straps 15 which have adjusting buckles IS. A skull cap piece is provided intermediate the extremities 0f the straps I5 as shown at l5 to assist in retaining the structure against displacement and to prevent injury or unpleasant feeling as a result of the narrow strap engaging the top of the head portion'when the device is in use. Extending downwardly from the head band 14 at each side are the cheek straps l1 and. I8, these straps being connected to the head band at H and I8 and extending downwardly and being looped about and adjusted in the strap fastening element formed by the staples I9, 19' and 20. The staples l9 and Is are arranged out of vertical alignment in a slightly forward angular position at the wider part of the jaw wings 2 and 3 while the staples 20 are arranged below the wedged-shaped pockets 4 and 5 in the chin cup I.

The cheek strap I1 is shaped to extend rearwardly of the strap ill at its upper portion so as to be fastened to the head band l4 medially of its side structure. The strap 18 extends at a slight angle rearwardly for its connection with the head band and with the staples 20 of the chin cup I. Take-up buckles of conventional type are provided at 2| and 22 respectively for adjusting the cheek straps so that the supporting cup I and the wing portions 2 and 3 can be clamped snugly against the user's chin and jaw.

The wedge elements 8 which are used to clamp the extremities of the wings 9 and I0 within the pockets 4 and 5 are preferably made of hard metal, not only to facilitate their insertion and removal, but also in order that they may partially penetrate the faces of the pockets and the wing extremities which they engage when forced into seating position. This insures a positive locking of the parts so that they will not become disconnected or the adjustment effected due to un- 3 conscious movement of the person wearing the equipment while in slumber.

While I have shown the chin support and the wing members as having a continuous surface, it will be apparent that these parts may be formed with suitably arranged perforations or slots throughout such areas as may be considered necessary. I have indicated such perforation or slots by reference characters 25, this arrangement merely being for the purpose of illustration, it being obvious that ventilation of the device may vary in accordance with requirements. It will be noted further that lining elements or pads may, when necessary, be arranged between the chin cup, wings and the face of the person using the device to prevent di'scomfortor injury. The liner or padding used may be perforated to facilitate ventilation or may be made out of porous material such as artificial sponge or the like.

From the foregoing it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the device which is formed of plastic, metal, or other suitable material, is capable of adjustment for use by children to prevent malocclusion, or may be used by any person in' the case of fractures or the like, and is capable of quick, neat and accurate adjustment by any one without special science or skill, when once instructed in its use.

What I claim is:

1'. In a jaw supporting apparatus, a central member pre-shaped to snugly fit the chin, said central member having aligned V-shaped pockets, side members including relatively wide wing portions for engaging the sides of the jaw and tapering strap portions, said tapering strap portions being adapted to extend into said pockets, means fastening the straps in said pockets, a plurality of spaced strap fastening elements formed at the lower portion or said' central member below said pockets, a pair of super-imposed fastening elements extending outwardly from the wings, and a supporting harness including a head band, and strap members connecting saidhead band and said fastening elements for supporting the central member and the jaw side members.

2; The substance of claim 1, characterized in that the means locking the strap in said pockets comprises V-shaped'wedges which are driven into said. pockets attheir reduced extremities to bind the strap members therein.

3. The substance of claim 1 characterized in thatthe tapering strap portions of the side members are formed at their extremities with perforations to facilitate their insertion and removal intosaid V-shaped pockets.

4;1he substance of claim 1 characterized in that the V-shaped: pockets are arranged in horizontal'. alignment with theirreduced extremities extending inwardly towards the central portion of said center member.

5. In a jaw supporting device, a cup shaped member having a concave medial portion for receiving the chin, wing members having their outer portions widened and normally projecting above and below the chin portion, said wing portions being adapted to engage each side of the jaw, and including inwardly tapered extensions adapted to underlie and be adjustably connected with the cup shaped member at each side and below the concave portion of the same, said cup shaped member being provided with strap attaching means below the junction of the cup shaped member and the wing members, additional strap attaching means at the upper and lower portions of the jaw engaging outer extensions, and strap members engaging the strap attaching devices, said strap members being adapted to extend upwardly and about the head for'securing the device in position.

6. In a jaw supporting device, a cup shaped member having a concave medial portion for receiving the chin, wing members having their outer portions widened and normally projecting above and' below the chin portion, said wing portions being adapted to engage each side of the jaw, and including inwardly tapered extensions adapte to underlie and be adjustably connected with the cup shaped member at each side and below the concave portion of the same, and strap members connected to the cup shaped member and to the wing members for securing said device in position.

'1. In a jaw supporting apparatus, a central chin-supporting cup-like structure of rigid mate rial, a pair of jaw braces, said jaw braces including relatively wide wing portions for engaging the jaws and inwardly extending tapered portions connecting with said cup member, means adjustably securing said tapered portions to said; cup member at points below its engagement with the chin, and a supporting harness including a head band having front straps connecting between the head band and the central member, and rear straps connecting the head band and the side members.

GEORGE A. SWENDIMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 106,091 Stowe Aug. 2, 1870 2,397,648 Butler Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 480,802 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1938 

